News of a second wife / Chioma

An eerie silence reigned in the room. All six of us stared at our mother; none of us had spoken a word for over a minute after she finished talking. Our mother's face was hard and she was staring, not at us, but at a spot behind us.
"But what does this mean? I don't understand what it means." Chika was the youngest child and eight years old.
No one answered her question. We just kept staring at our mother's face. Her expression was a strange one; it was completely blank, yet still communicated the intense rage beneath.
"What does it mean?" Chika asked again, but this time, her question was whispered directly to me as she gripped my hand tightly. I turned to look at her and the expression on my face must have heightened her panic as tears welled in her eyes. I shook my head, raising my hand to her shoulder as I tried to pacify her. I honestly was not sure what it all meant, but I was hoping to know soon enough. Being the oldest, it was my responsibility to understand the implication of this so I could know the best way to protect my mother and siblings. Though I suspected it could not be anything good hence my mother's countenance.
Without warning, mama stood up. "I will not take this lying down. I won't. No one is going to come in here and snatch my children's inheritance, destroy all I have worked for. I will not take it." Her harsh voice rang out like a loud bell in the silent room.
She looked at us. "Don't worry. I will fight this, even if it takes the last drop of my blood. I will fight this."
She walked away from the room and left us all there, sitting and wondering if it would ever amount to the last drop of her blood and if it did, whether it would be worth it. Internally, I tried to remember every story I had ever heard about the impact of second wives in families. I reviewed many local movies in my mind and all I could remember were sad endings, where the coming of a second wife destabilised peaceful homes. I felt the shivers come on as I struggled to remain calm. With the eyes of my brothers and sisters on me, I felt the weight of my first born position and the responsibilities that came with it, despite the fact that I was only sixteen years old. Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile. "Don't worry. I don't think there is much to worry about. Mama and I will take care of it. No second wife is going to come and scatter this family." I hoped I had succeeded in reducing their panic for I had failed to reduce mine.